Rail bond



Oct. 9, 1928.

c. L. LARSON RAIL: BOND Filed Jan. 12. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l -L B 6 m llclhzesses 1760972602:

M i QMELES L. LHESON,

Oct.- 9, 1928. 1,687,297-

' c. L. LARSON RAIL BOND Filed Jan. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mne 5e$.- Inventor:

' 0/45455 L. LflESO/V,

III

Patented Oct. .9, 1928.

a UNITED STATES PATEN 1,687,297 T OFFICE.-

cnAnLEs L. LARSON, or woncnsrnn, mAssAcnusnrrs, AssrqNon TO THE AMERICAN STEEL AND WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF N EW JERSEYZ I nonnf Application filed January 12, 1927. Serial No. 160,652.

. This invention relatesQto. rail bonds, and

while not limited thereto, relates more par ticularly to rail bonds for bonding power rails on heavy traction lines, and has for one of its objects the provision of a novel bond having sufficient capacity to replace the plurality of bonds heretofore necessary to eiiiciently bond such rails.

Another object is to provide a novel form of terminal foybonds of this'type which will cooperate with the conductor portion to hold the bond in position on the rail while it is being welded.

Another, object is to provide a terminal which may be mechanically secured tothe ends of the bond conductor and which will cooperate with the edge of the base flange of therail to form a pocket to retain the welding or attaching metal, so that the conductor ends, terminals and rail may all be united in a single welding operation,

A still further object is to provide a bond having the novel construction, design and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of a rail joint having the novel rail bond of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the joint of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a'sectional view taken on the line III-IH of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view ofone of the bond terminals.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through one of the bond terminals after it is welded to a rail.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals2 and 3 designate the rails which are joined together by fish plates 4 and bolts 5 in the usual manner.

The rails 2 and 3 are bonded together by the improved bond A of this application to provide an eflicientelectrical connection.

The bond A is composed of a flexible conductor portion B and terminals 0. The

conductor B is composed of a plurality of v ductor are bent or turned upwardly and thecable lengths 6 are arranged on an angle so that the upturned ends 7 of the conductor are offset relative to each other.

The terminals C' are formed from steel or malleable iron and may be cast or forged as desired. The terminals 0 comprise a bottomwall 8, and a back wall 9 extending at right angles to each other, andend walls 10, all of said walls being formed integral. The end walls 10 of the terminals are provided with supporting lugs 12 which project forwardly adjacent the to of the side walls and have their bottom f ces inclined to fit the inclined or tapered upper face of the rail flanges.

The bottom wall 8 is provided with an .opening 14 to receive the upturned ends 7 of the conductor B, and the wall 8 is thickened or provided with a projecting portion 15 along its forward edge opposite the opening 14 adapted to be pressed inward'in line with the remainder of the forward edge on each side of the opening 14: after the ends 7 of the conductor are in position so as to bite into and clamp the conductor ends in position and prevent accidental displacement. of the terminals.

The bond A is adapted to be positioned on the rails with the conductor B extending under the rails and with the lugs 12 of the terminals engaged over the bottom flanges of the rails, one terminal engaging each rail, and with the forward edge of the bottom wall 8 of the terminals bearing against the side edges of the bottom flanges of the rails so that the lugs will cooperate with the edges of the bottom flanges of the rail to form a closed pocket to retain the attaching metal 16 deposited when welding the bond to the rails. The attaching metal 16 will weld the bond terminals, the ends of the conductor, and the bottom flanges of the rails together.

The conductor B has its ends 7 spaced apart, preferably a distance less than the width of the rail flanges so that it will be 1 necessary to spring the ends of the bond outwardly in order to mount'the bond on the rails, and when the bond is mounted in position the resiliency of the conductor,.together with the supporting lugs 12, will 5 serve to mechanically hold the bond in position on the rail while it is being welded.

' The bond of this invention has the advantage of being self-supporting during the welding operation, and in forming a self- 110 the practice.

contained mold or retaining pocket for the welding metal, and also it'provides a bond of suflicient capacity to carry the heavy electric currents of the powerrails, thus eliminating the necessity of employing a plurality of individual bonds as has heretofore been While I have, shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I donot wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the apon each end of said conductor, said terminals each comprising abody portion composed of a bottom wall and back wall extending at substantiallyright angles to each other, and end walls, all of said Walls being formed 1ntegral, said botto wall being apertured to receive the ends the terminals, and said end walls being each provided with a supporting lug rojecting beyond the forward. edge of said bottom wall and adapted to overlie the top of the base flange of the rail belng bonded so as to support the bond in bonding osition, said bottom wall of said terminal being adapted to have its forward edge abut the side edge of the base flange of the rail so that said rail base flange and said bottom, back and end walls of said terminal will cooperate to form a pocket to receive the attaching metal deposited in welding the bond to the rail; F

2. A rail bond, comprising a flexible conductor portion composed of a plurality of individual lengths of flexible cable laid side by side forming a relatively wide flat conductor, said conductor having its ends turned upwardly to form a substantially U-shaped conductor, rigid terminals mechanically secured'on each end of said conductor, said conductor being arranged in said terminals so that said terminals are offset from each other and'the conductor extends on an angle between said terminals, one of said terminals being adapted to be engaged with one rail and the other terminal with the opposite side of the other rail being bonded, and said conductor being adapted to extend under the rails on an angle, said terminals each comprising a body portion composed of a bottom wall and back wall extending at substantially right angles to each other, and end walls, all of said walls being formed integral, said bottom wall being apertured to receive the ends 1 of the terminals, and said end walls being each provided with a supporting lug projecting beyond the forward edge of said bottom wall and adapted to overlie the top of the base flange of the rail being bonded so as to support the bond in bonding'position', said bottom wall of said terminal being. adapted to have its forward edge abut the side edge of the base flange of the rail so that said rail base flange, and said bottom, back and end Walls of said terminal will cooperate to form a pocket to receive the attaching metal de posited in welding the bond to the rail.

3. A rail bond, comprising a resilient and flexible conductor portion composed of more than two individuallengths of flexible copper cable laid side by side in. close contact forming a" relatively wide flat continuous conductor, said conductor having its ends turned upwardly to form a substantially U-shaped conductor, rigid terminals mechanically secured on eachfend of said conductor, said conductor being arranged in said terminals so that said terminals are offset from each other and the conductor extends on an angle between said terminals, one of said terminals being adapted to be engaged with one rail and the other terminal with the opposite side of the other. rail being bonded, and

said conductor being adapted to extend under the rails on an angle, said terminals each comprising a body portion composed of a bottom wall and back wall extending at substantially right angles to each other, and end walls, all of said walls being formed integral, said bottom wall being apertured to receive the end of the terminals, and said end walls being each provided with a suppor'tin lug projecting beyond the forwardedge 0 said bottom wall and adapted to overlie the. top

of the base flange of the rail being bonded so as to support the bond inbondmg position, said bottom-Wall of said terminal being adapted 'to have its forward edge abut the side edge of the base flange of the rail so that said rail base flange, and said bottom, back and end Walls of said terminal will cooperate to form a pocket to receive the attaching metal deposited in welding the bond to the rail.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunt signed my name.

CHARLES L. LARSON. 

